Allergy Season kicking off

After what seemed to be an extra long winter, most are thrilled that the days are getting longer, the sun is staying out and the temperatures are warming up. But as with every Spring, the pollen is taking over.

Itchy eyes, red eyes, tearing, and of course the sneezing, allergy season is kicking off with tree pollen being the big culprit this early in the season. Dr. Russell Settipane, Rhode Island Hospital Allergy Specialist says, "We're just getting started and there are so many tree species here in New England and they all have to do their thing, they all have to release their pollen."

And after a snowy winter and recent rain storms, the area trees are nice and healthy. Dr. Settipane says, "they're well hydrated from all the snow and rain we've gotten this spring and they are going to produce a ton of pollen."

Dr. Settipane is also the Director of The Allergy and Asthma Center and he goes on saying there are some easy steps to take early on to make things easier on you, "see their physician, get some advice, get on some medication that can nip it in the bud so to speak and prevent this from really becoming a problem they can be much better off."

Dr. Settipane says that May is the peak month for tree allergies with maple trees causing the most symptoms, "tree pollen season ends that first week of June but the grass pollen season kind of overlaps and continues into July."